An hour passed and Lin and Mai had brought everything in with some help since John and Takigawa didn't take long with the house. They had everything set up and were now finishing the last camera.
"How's this Lin-san?" Mai asked through the microphone.
"Just a tenth of an inch to the left"
Mai looked at the camera befuddled. "Uh, Lin I don't think it's possible to have the camera move in that small amount without it going over."
"I know Taniyama-san." Mai glared at the monitor. "The angle is just fine. Come back to base."
Mai stood up and began walking she stopped only after three steps. "Lin-san was messing with me." She giggled. "I can't believe it. He's normally so stoic and cold." She began to take a step but froze feeling a chill run down her spine. She turned her head quickly from side to side and behind her hoping there was nothing there. She swallowed hard and kept still, her instincts telling her to run like the devil was chasing her. She wanted to but she was frozen in fear. She closed her eyes tightly hoping that whatever it was would pass.
"Taniyama-san?" She heard a voice call. Mai's eyes shot open and she ran as fast as she could back to base.
Lin had been sitting watching the monitors waiting for Mai to finish up the last camera.
"How's this Lin-san?" Her voice asked through the microphone.
He smiled. "Just a tenth of an inch to the left" He replied. Naru wasn't around so why not mess with the girl? After he said that the face she gave made him stifle his laughter.
"Uh, Lin, I don't think it's possible to have the camera move in that small amount without it going over."
He shook his head. "I know Taniyama-san." She glared at him. "The angle is just fine. Come back to base." He smiled and continued working keeping track of everything going on typing it onto his laptop and researching anything he could find. Moments had passed and Mai had not returned just yet. He assumed she had gotten lost. He heard a giggle a minute or two ago knowing she was still there.
After ten minutes had passed he looked at the monitors. Nothing had changed as of yet. He noted it on his computer and began working again. So far the only thing he could come up with in his research was just a list of previous owners and how long they were here. He let out a sigh. It looked like he would be searching for each family one at a time. He began with the very first. Nakamura.
Time continued to pass and Mai had not returned yet. He glanced at the monitors. He couldn't see Mai anywhere. He turned on all microphones and said her name thinking maybe she'd be near one.
"Taniyama-san?" There was no response. Lin frowned and turned the switch down and looked at all of the monitors checking everything. Still nothing. He was about to phone Naru on his cell when the base door burst open and slammed shut. Mai backed away from the door slowly watching it. He could hear her pant from being out of breath. He noticed her legs were shaky. He watched her wondering what made her act this way.
"Taniyama-san?" He called. He regretted it when she screamed startled. He stood and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Taniyama-san." He said firmly. She was silent and looked up at Lin her eyes full of fear.
"L-Lin-san?" She burst into tears and wrapped her arms around his waist hugging him tightly. He stood stiff not entirely sure what to do. He never really had to deal with a crying female let alone a crying Mai. That was more Takigawa's thing. He looked down at the petite girl waiting for her to calm herself down and gather her composure.
"Taniyama-san?" Lin finally spoke. His voice monotone but quiet enough as to not startle the girl. She made no response. He cleared his throat. "Taniyama-san." She looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from her crying. He stared at her a moment and she looked down.
Mai held onto him tightly out of fear as she cried. She didn't know why she felt this way but she did and she couldn't help but letting it take control. He called her name and she looked up at the Chinese man and he stared back. She felt an odd feeling in her stomach looking at him and looked down. Realizing that she still had her arms wrapped around him she immediately pulled away blushing.
"S-Sorry Lin-san." She whispered softly. She sat down on a chair wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
Lin looked at her. "Taniyama-san are you alright?"
She sat there in silence for a moment not sure of what to make of what happened. "I-I'm not sure Lin-san. One moment I was smiling and getting ready to come back to base and the next I was frozen to the spot and too scared to move. I." She stopped and swallowed. "I really don't know what happened. All I do know is whatever it was scared me and made feel as if I was alone." She looked up. "It made me feel like I was going to die."
He looked at her and could see the fear in her eyes. She knew it. She also knew he would tell Naru. She hated having to tell Naru things, but then again he'd always make her feel safe. She looked at down at herself and let her eyes travel to the ground. She hugged herself tighter and let out a ragged sigh. She sat there feeling Lin's eyes on her studying her, observing her.
He watched her a few minutes longer wondering if she would be okay. He knew cases were always hard for her. She went through a lot and still managed to come out with a smile each time. He looked at her a moment longer then turned back to his laptop and the monitors to continue his work. As he continued his research he found that what Murakami-san had said was true. All females between the ages of 14-19. All dead. He looked back at Mai watching her wondering if this ghost or whatever it was would come after her. He had hoped not. Lin had grown fond of the girl; she was something special, not only to the team but him as well. He looked back at the screen and shook his head of those thoughts. "Those thoughts aren't necessary at the moment." He thought.
A few hours later Mai woke up to the sound of a tap-taping sound. She soon realized she was in the base and the sounds she was hearing was Lin typing on his computer as usual. She sat up and realized she was on some sort of bed. She sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes, then looked around the base. It was dark. The only light was coming from the monitors and Lin's computer. She stood up and approached the monitors looking from screen to screen. She was staring at one in particular in room 4. She stepped closer to look at it and her eyes widened. She could see a blurry figure standing in the room. She half turned and reached her arm out to grab Lin's attention as she kept her eyes glued to the screen.
"Lin." She waved her arm. "Lin." She said again. She hadn't realized her voice was so hoarse. The figure crept closer to the camera just as she hit Lin on the shoulder. Suddenly its face popped up on the screen and made Mai jump back and let out a raspy scream. She fell onto her bottom terrified and trembling. The face burned into her vision.
Lin was typing on the computer glancing every once in a while to record things. He had finished most of the report on the house when he felt something hit his shoulder. He looked to what it was and saw Mai staring at a screen. He looked between the screens and couldn't figure out what had her attention. When she jumped backwards and screamed he checked readings quickly thinking he'd find something when there was nothing. He frowned. He turned to look at Mai and she was on the floor trembling and looked like a scared little kid. He didn't want to wake anyone but he didn't want to deal with her. He looked around the room then stood and bent down and picked the trembling girl up. He carried her bridal style to her room and laid her down in the bed. She refused to let go of him so he ended up lying beside her so she would calm down and go to sleep. Unfortunately for him he passed out and completely missed the temperature changes that happened through-out the night.
~Dream world: ~
Mai stood in vast darkness looking around unsure of what she was suppose to do. Her dream shifted to the house and she sat near a garden in the front yard. She looked up at the sun and smiled brightly. The day seemed perfect. She stood patting dirt from her dress. She removed her gardening gloves and headed inside and made a cup of cold ice tea. As she drank it she stood in her kitchen looking at the clock.
The dream changed again and she was now on the balcony. It was night time she was staring at the moon and closed her eyes as she felt the cool breeze blow through her hair giving her a sense of peace. The dream suddenly changed to black again and there was the face. That disgusting face. It was pale and white. Its eyes were black holes, its nose gone, its mouth smiling an evil smile with sharp teeth and blood coming from its mouth. It was staring right at her, calling her, filling her with fear. Its mouth opened and saliva mixed with blood started dripping.
"Mine." It said. "Mine." Its voice sent shivers up and down her spine. She dropped down to her knees and began crying. She didn't know what to do. She continued to cry until everything faded and she began to wake up.
~End Dream World: ~